Addiction and Teenagers -
An Abstract
Addiction and Teenagers -
An Abstract
by
Dr. Samir Chaukkar
Any drug substance especially a psychoactive substance used for non medicinal purposes such as intoxication or recreation leads to addiction and is detrimental not only to ones own health but to the family and the society as well. Adolescents are the most vulnerable group of the society. First they start taking drugs out of curiosity to experiment with, later on as pleasure seeking, then as stress reliever which leads to habit formation and finally addiction with strong physiological and psychological/emotional dependence on the drug.
Failure, frustration, affluence, poverty, family/matrimonial disharmony, peer group pressure are some of the factors which make a person vulnerable to drug abuse.
Teenagers may be involved with legal or illegal drugs in various ways. Experimentation with drugs during adolescence is common. Unfortunately, teenagers often dont see the link between their actions today and the consequences tomorrow. They also have a tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience.
Using alcohol and tobacco at a young age increases the risk of using other drugs later. Some teens will experiment and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems. Others will develop a dependency, moving on to more dangerous drugs and causing significant harm to themselves and possibly others.
Adolescence is a time for trying new things. Teens use drugs for many reasons, including curiosity, because it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up or to fit in. It is difficult to know which teens will experiment and stop and which will develop serious problems.
Who is At Risk?
Teenagers at risk for developing serious alcohol and drug problems include
those:
with a family history of substance abuse
who are depressed
who have low self-esteem
who feel like they dont fit in or are out of the mainstream
Warning Signs of Teen Substance Abuse
Physical
fatigue
repeated health complaints
red and glazed eyes
lasting cough
Emotional
personality change
sudden mood changes
irritability
irresponsible behavior
low self-esteem
poor judgment
depression
general lack of interest
Family
starting arguments
negative attitude
breaking rules
withdrawing from family
secretiveness
School
decreased interest
negative attitude
drop in grades
many absences
truancy
discipline problems
Social problems
new friends who make poor decisions and are not interested in school or family
activities
problems with the law
changes to less conventional styles in dress and music
Some of the warning signs listed above can also be signs of other
problems. Parents may recognize signs of trouble but should not be expected to
make the diagnosis.
Consulting a physician to rule out physical causes of the warning signs is a
good first step. This should often be followed or accompanied by a comprehensive
evaluation by a psychiatrist or mental health professional.
Substance Abuse Treatment
Parents can help through early education about drugs, open communication, good
role modeling, and early recognition if problems are developing. If there is any
suspicion that there is a problem, parents must find the most appropriate
intervention for their child.
The decision to get treatment for a child or adolescent is serious. Parents are
encouraged to seek consultation from a mental health professional when making
decisions about substance abuse treatment for children or adolescents.
Counseling (individual and/or group) and other behavioral therapies are
critical components of effective treatment.
Strong motivation can facilitate the treatment process. Sanctions or
enticements in the family, school setting, or juvenile justice system can
increase significantly both treatment entry and retention rates and the success
of drug treatment interventions.
Recovery from addiction can be a long-term process and frequently requires
multiple episodes of treatment.
Role of Homoeopathy in Addictions
Homeopathy is a non-toxic system of medicine that uses highly-diluted remedies
to treat illness and relieve discomfort in a wide variety of health conditions.
It is thought that homeopathic remedies are able to stimulate a persons bodily
systems to deal with stress and illness more efficiently. Research is currently
being undertaken to understand how and why these remedies work on the mental and
physical level.
Specific homeopathic remedies may be helpful during the
period of withdrawal from alcohol or drugs.
Holistic approaches to addiction and alcoholism can be of great assistance
throughout the stages of recovery. From detoxification to reducing stress and
improving mental and physical well being, holistic approaches play a vital role
in regaining personal balance.
For the recovering addict, holistic approaches should be accompanied by a
professional treatment plan but can be effective well beyond the initial
recovery phase.
Recent scientific studies have demonstrated dramatically improved success rates
with the addition of holistic treatment approaches.
Some Homoeopathic Drugs used for Alcoholism
Nux Vomica, Avena Sativa, Ars Alb, Sulphur, Bryonia, Sulphuric acid, Opium, Rhus tox, Kali Phos, Sterculia, Quercus spiritius gland etc.
Dr. Samir
Chaukkar
M.D. P.G.Diploma-Addictions
treatment and prevention (Canada)
Professor- dept of HMM and Pediatrics
Y.M.T.Hom medical College, Navi Mumbai
Author of the book on
Comparative materia medica
Consulting Homoeopath and Addictions Counsellor
Contact:
drsamirac@rediffmail.com
09892166616, 022-65118823, 022-65125616
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